up

N E Gro

R A e ase
s

C H cD
is

A
CO
O L n cre
ati

C
Pa
G nd
IN
O I a
T
T
G
R I pe
r

O
p
W eU

R
D an
M
P f, chr
s C a o
As the
z a n r in
Ya utho
A

016
4/2
/
30
OUTLINE
I. Searching for protocols
II. Protocol overview
III. Protocol headings
IV. Tips for writing a protocol
 LS
CO
TO
RO
P
OR
F
N G
H I
RC
A
SE
ARE COCHRANE PROTOCOLS PUBLISHED?
Yes, they are published before the review in the Cochrane
Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR).

SEARCHING FOR PROTOCOLS

WHY TO SEARCH FOR PROTOCOLS?
• To help decide a topic to make a review about.
• To have a look at protocols.

SEARCHING FOR PROTOCOLS

WHERE TO SEARCH FOR PROTOCOLS?
At www.cochranelibrary.com.

SEARCHING FOR PROTOCOLS

 I E W
RV
VE
O LO
OC
T
P RO
ALL COCHRANE SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
START WITH A PROTOCOL.
The
Feedback
Writing protocol Writing
and
the is the
editorial
protocol publishe review
approval
d

PROTOCOL OVERVIEW
 RATIONALE FOR PROTOCOLS
“Publication of a protocol for a review prior to knowledge of the
available studies reduces the impact of review authors’ biases,
promotes transparency of methods and processes, reduces the
potential for duplication, and allows peer review of the planned
methods (Light 1984).”*

*Higgins JPT, Green S (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0 [updated March 2011]. The
Cochrane Collaboration, 2011. Available from www.cochrane-handbook.org

PROTOCOL OVERVIEW
ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE
PROTOCOL AND REVIEW ALLOWED?
Yes, when necessary and they are not made to change the review
outcome.

PROTOCOL OVERVIEW
COCHRANE PROTOCOLS ARE WRITTEN
THROUGH “REVIEW MANAGER”.
• Work is shown in a specific way.
• Readers can find what they are looking for quickly.
• Electronic publishing is easy.

PROTOCOL OVERVIEW
 G S
I N
A D
HE
O L
OC
T
P RO
THERE ARE STANDARD HEADINGS IN
REVIEW MANAGER.
Note that the way the protocol appears in CDSR and RevMan
could be different.

PROTOCOL H EADINGS
THE COCHRANE HANDBOOK EXPLAINS
WHAT TO WRITE UNDER EACH HEADING.
• You can view it online at www.handbook.cochrane.org.
• You can view it through RevMan.

PROTOCOL H EADINGS
LET’S HAVE A LOOK AT THE PROTOCOL
HEADINGS IN REVIEW MANAGER.

PROTOCOL H EADINGS
 O L
O C
OT
PR
A
G
TI N
RI
W
OR
S F
TIP
TIPS FOR WRITING THE BACKGROUND
• Do not talk in a lot of detail about mechanisms of action.
• Do not talk about animal research.
• One page is enough.

TIPS FOR WRITING A PROTOCOL

TIPS FOR WRITING THE OBJECTIVES
• Adverse effects should be considered.
• Don not set too many objectives.

TIPS FOR WRITING A PROTOCOL

TIPS FOR WRITING THE METHODS
• Explain the reason for any exclusion or restriction.
• Outcomes should contain at least one possible benefit and one
possible harm.
• Search methods should be so clear that they can be replicated.
• In most of the review groups there is a Trials Search Coordinator
(TSC) who can help a lot regarding search methods.

TIPS FOR WRITING A PROTOCOL

TIPS FOR WRITING THE METHODS
• Contact a local health librarian if the review group has no TSC.
• The more databases you search in, the more results you will get.
• CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials),
MEDLINE and EMBASE are well-known databases to search in.
• Looking at the references of included studies could help find
new studies.
• You may look for trials that are ongoing or unpublished.

TIPS FOR WRITING A PROTOCOL

TIPS FOR WRITING THE METHODS
• Selection of studies is usually done by more than one author so
that the process is reproducible.
• Mention how disagreements will be resolved.
• Familiarse yourself with the concepts related to methods.
• You should mention in the protocol if you intending to create a
“summary of findings” table.

TIPS FOR WRITING A PROTOCOL

TIPS FOR WRITING THE METHODS
• Write in active voice.
• Write in future tense.
• Follow the “Cochrane Style Guide” when writing your protocol
and review.

TIPS FOR WRITING A PROTOCOL

TIPS FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE
• Take your time in writing your protocol.
• “Guidance for the completion of your Cochrane Protocol” is very
useful to know how to write your protocol.
• “Intervention Cochrane Protocol – checklist for authors” is
useful before submitting your protocol.
• Do not hesitate to ask.
• Enjoy the journey. 

TIPS FOR WRITING A PROTOCOL

USEFUL LINKS TO LOOK AT
• http://tech.cochrane.org/revman/download
• http://
community-archive.cochrane.org/sites/default/files/uploads/Co
chrane-Style-Guide_4-1-edition.pdf
• http://
training.cochrane.org/path/introduction-systematic-reviews-pa
thway
/

TIPS FOR WRITING A PROTOCOL

QUESTIONS

?
 U !
YO
N K REFERENCES

H A Dewey, Ann. (2013, August). Writing a

T Cochrane Protocol: online learning

module. Available
from: https://training.cochrane.org/
path/introduction-systematic-
reviews-pathway/2